VASE-encoded peptide modifies NCAM- and L1-mediated neurite outgrowth

• Published in: Journal of neuroscience research Vol. 50; no. 1; pp. 62 - 68
• Main Authors: Lahrtz, Fritz, Horstkorte, Rüdiger, Cremer, Harold, Schachner, Melitta, Montag, Dirk
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.1997
• Subjects: Alternative Splicing - physiology; Animals; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - chemistry; Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal - metabolism; Cells, Cultured; Cerebellum - cytology; Cloning, Molecular; Exons - genetics; Gene Expression - physiology; Immunoglobulins - chemistry; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Mice; Mice, Mutant Strains; NCAM; neurite outgrowth; Neurites - chemistry; Neurites - drug effects; Neurites - physiology; Oligopeptides - genetics; Recombinant Proteins; VASE; π-exon
• ISSN: 0360-4012; 1097-4547
• DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-4547(19971001)50:1<62::AID-JNR7>3.0.CO;2-J

Interactions between the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) with NCAM‐expressing neurons (trans‐interaction) stimulate outgrowth of neurites. The extent of NCAM‐triggered neurite outgrowth depends on the presence of 10 amino acids derived from the variable alternatively spliced exon (VASE or π‐exon) in the fourth immunoglobulin‐like domain of NCAM (Ig4): NCAM with VASE reduces and without VASE enhances neurite outgrowth in cis‐ or trans‐interaction. We have investigated the role of VASE in neurite outgrowth by characterizing the receptors at the cell surface of cultured cerebellar neurons. Results from experiments with L1 and NCAM antibodies and with cerebellar neurons derived from wild‐type or NCAM‐deficient mice show that substrate‐coated Ig4 with VASE (Ig4+) or without VASE (Ig4−) stimulates neurite outgrowth by a trans‐interaction with L1 and that Ig4− promotes neurite outgrowth more strongly than Ig4+ by a transinteraction with NCAM. J. Neurosci. Res. 50:62–68, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.